No strike notice issued as negotiations between Canada Post and union continue

Negotiations continue between Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), with the 21-day cooling-off period ending Nov. 2 and both sides now in a position to initiate a labour disruption, given they provide a minimum 72-hour notice.

Canada Post said the parties remain at the table and have agreed not to provide a 72-hour notice as long as discussions remain productive.

“Our goal throughout these negotiations with CUPW has always been to reach negotiated agreements, without any labour disruption,” Canada Post said in a statement.

Talks have continued since Nov. 2 between CUPW and Canada Post, with negotiators meeting with the employer to address two key issues.

On Nov. 2, CUPW said the focus was on the short-term disability plan.

“Unfortunately, the employer demonstrated little willingness to consider our demand to include 10 medical days and seven personal days as part of our collective agreements,” the CUPW said in a release. “Canada Post refuses to move from its position of including 13 personal days, which does not represent an improvement from what we currently have.”

Nov. 3 negotiations shifted to weekend delivery.

“Our priority in negotiating weekend delivery is to ensure that the weekend delivery does not compromise our regular full-time routes on weekdays,” said CUPW. “We are not satisfied that the employer’s plan will protect our weekday work. The employer’s main interest lies in achieving ‘flexibility’ to deliver parcels at the lowest possible cost.”

Although CUPW has not yet issued a strike notice to Canada Post or the minister of labour, the union said if there is no real movement at the bargaining table, it won’t shy away from taking the next step.

Canada Post’s regular business operations continue. Going forward, it would be at least three days (minimum 72 hours) after a notice is received before any labour disruption could begin.

“We remain committed to providing customers with updates as quickly as possible as negotiations,” Canada Post said.